The Portland daily press., 1887-11-10


| presented to the Governor are So MANY that
| IL required separate trunk to convey them
here. Those who made an estimate of all
the petitions sent from all parts of the coun-
try say there are eleven miles of names beg
ging for clemency.
The Appeal for Mercy.
Captain Black was presented to the Gov
ernor today and read his petition in behalf
OF the condemned. After reading the peti-
tion and an affdavitt, Captain Black ad-
dressed the Governor. he explained every
effort that had been made to comply with
the requirements Of the law governing APP
plications for the interposing Of executive
clemency and stated that Judge Gary and
States Attorney CIR nnell had joined in the
recommendation for clemency for Fielden
and Schwab. Having disposed of the more
formal parts Of the application, Captain
Black made an eloquent and touching ap-
peal for mercy.
General Trumbull followed Captain Black
and simply asked for mercy in plain and un-
pretentious terms.
Mrs Cora l.. V. Richmond, representa-
tive of the Amnesty Association, was the
next speaker. She argued that public policy
and justice was opposed to capital punish
ment generally, and,pleaded earnestly and
eloquently for the wives, mothers and chill
dren of the condemned.
Hon. E. NJ. Haines of Waukegon, fol-
lowed. He asked a Communication of SEN
tence on the grounds of justice and public
policy.
George Chilling stepped forward and re-
queSted permission for Senator Streeter to
speak for the State senator's. Senator Street.
er then read the petition of the State sena-
tors, which asks for reprieve of thirty days
and having finished the reading he laid the
petition on the table and made few re-
marks. He thought that in thirty days pub
lie opinion would be so reVolutiOnized that
the Governor could do nothing else than
commute the sentences The Senator's re-
marks seemed to have some weight with the
Governor
AT II o'clock the morning session closed.
Capt Black stepped up and requested the
Governor to turn over all the papers to the
reporters, because of the intense interest Of
the public. The Governor replied that the
reporters could have them as soon as he had
seen them. George Schilling and l.. S. Oil
yer carried the trunk containing the petit
tiOns in front of the Governor. Taking out
large pile, Oliver said, THE petitions con-
tain the names of sixty thousand people liv-
ing in Chicago" The Executive requested
an affidavit to that effect and Oliver replied,
'It will be presented later" AS Gov. 0gles-
by was about to step into his private office,
Mrs. Black stopped him. She was permitted
to speak few sentences, when the Cover
nor interrupted her with: Excuse me,
Madame. but | should like to take care Of
this case myself"
The friends of the Anarchists held a
meeting at the Leland Hotel this noon, to Sc
lect persons to address the Governor during
the afternoon. Pleadings began at 2.15, and
a number addressed the Governor, repre-
senting various labor organizations. The
Governor then received the relatives of the
condemned, the audience being excluded.
Up to late hour this evening, the Cover
nor was still holding private interviews with
the friends and relatives Of the Anarchists
The Governor has given no expression as
to his intentions, and it is not likely that any
decision. will be igiven tonight. 1t was said
this afternoon that Spies's brother was to
lay letter before the Governor from Spies
this evening. 1t is claimed that Grinnell
said in his speech that If Spies were hanged
the law would be satisfied. In his letter
Spies asks that the sentence Of his comrades
be commuted and that he die, thereby salts
flying GrinnelPs demand
The Governor said tonight that he must,
In justice to the men, decide the question
very soon. 1t will not do to delay much
longer.
Pleading His Cause.
Among the petitions presented this after
noon was the following:
To His ErceLlency, Richard J. OgIesby:
Dear rSir:-Supplementary to the petition here
tofore signed by me. desire to say that realize
that many utteranceS of mine in connection with
labor agitation in the past, expressions made un-
der intense excitement and often without deliber-
alton, were injudicious and immature. These
regret, believing that they must have had a ten
IN viz for